1996 Porsche 993 Turbo - Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

Longing for a 993 GT2 Evo, Bryan Cole built the finest example this side of the Nürburgring

For some, the 993 generation Porsche 911 is regarded as the best of all. Replacing torsion bars for an aluminum multi-link rear-end meant better handling, balance and control, suffering less oversteer from mid-corner lift-off than the previous 911. And while much of the structure was recycled from the 964, the body panels were completely new - rounder, smoother, wider - meaning the car looked as it should, all the way down to its teardrop headlights.

Like all 911s, there were several different models such as the Turbo, naturally aspirated, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, widebody; you know the deal. And, of course, there was the homologation special, the 993 GT2.

During the GT2's racing career, Porsche developed the GT2 Evo. Making 600hp and tipping the scales at just 2425 lb, it had wider fenders to cover wider tires, and, of course, a taller rear wing.

The Evo was built to leave the GT2 class and battle it out in GT1. And with Porsche Motorsport developing the parts, several race teams converted their GT2s to Evo spec, creating one of the most unattainable and unaffordable 911s in history.

Bryan Cole has always been a diehard car guy, willing to spare no expense until his cars meet or exceed his build goal. "I've always been a Porsche and Lambo freak," he laughed. "The Porsche I remembered through high school was the #77 Chereau GT2 from the '97 Le Mans 24 Heures, and I always said I'd own that car one day."

Granted, the Chereau GT2 Evo actually DNF'ed in the '97 race but was a stunning machine. So what does it take to recreate such a thing? Well, for starters, a ton of money, time, patience and know-how. Fortunately, Bryan has all those things and was willing to sacrifice to build his dream car.

Taking a shortcut, Bryan didn't start this build himself. "I bought a 993 911 Turbo about a year ago with the GT2 Evo conversion already done by Kelly Moss Racing to factory spec," he explained.

Finding the perfect base was a key factor. The bodywork was flawless, the all-wheel drive bits had been removed and it was converted to RWD like a true GT2. For most people, this car would have been enough, but for Bryan this was only the starting point.

"My dream was to have the unattainable GT2 Evo. I wanted one of the most rare, over-the-top, fire-breathing cars I could legally drive through the canyons and on Southern California racetracks," he told us. "I wanted a car so mean it scared kids on the street and ripped people's faces off," he laughed. And it does this effortlessly, especially on the dismal streets of downtown LA.

This particular 993 exudes more character and presence than most modern supercars. There's something raw, muscular and beautiful about the unfathomably wide rear-end and the massive wing.

In fact, the 993 Turbo now sports GT2 Evo bolt-on fenders all round, an Evo 1 front bumper and splitter, GT2 decklid and banana wing, plus a sunroof delete. And while it's obviously a looker, its heart was built for speed.

When we say Bryan rebuilt this thing, we're understating it. The 3.6-liter motor was rebuilt by SP Engineering using new factory parts. "Every seal, washer and ring was replaced," Bryan claimed.

To keep the motor stable, RS mounts were enlisted, and they'd be tested by upgraded KKK k16/24 hybrid turbos. However, even these parts would be meaningless if not properly tuned, so Evolution Motorsports took on the task of making the GT2 Evo burn rubber and spit fire.

The pops, burbles and rumbles from the exhaust are almost stupid, in the best way possible. It sounds angry, yet seduces you as only a Porsche can. And much of the sound can be credited to the Fabspeed headers and straight-pipe exhaust.

The transmission copes with the extra power thanks to hardened third, fourth and fifth gears in conjunction with all-steel synchros. Did someone say notchy? The Porsche Motorsport RS shifter and clutch send almost 600hp to the Guard limited-slip diff in a surge of boosted fury that's barely controlled by the truly massive 335-section Michelin Cup rear tires.

The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires provide plenty of grip, but they wouldn't be as effective without the no-compromise suspension system that Bryan constructed.

It started with Moton Clubsport coilovers and 800/1000 lb H&R springs plus factory GT2 Evo front uprights and bumpsteer kit. The Porsche Motorsport RS sway bars are fully adjustable to tame over- or understeer, depending on the track surface. And perhaps the most substantial difference is the Elephant Racing sealed monoball joints that replace the rubber bushings. So while Bryan drives the car on the street, calling it a road car seems wrong.

Inside, the rollcage is badass, replicating the exact plate size, bar length and body welds used on the GT2's bars.

There are some modern additions, too, such as a GReddy electronic boost controller, Innovate wideband gauge and Alpine stereo. Yes, it has a stereo, which seems hilarious on a car that's had its sound deadening and headliner removed.

Despite that, Bryan Cole's 911 isn't just a close match of the GT2 Evo, it's an exact replica, and then some. He wanted the unattainable and built it. To recreate this build - even if you had the means - would defeat the most determined enthusiast because you can't simply source the parts on eBay. And yet for all of us who lust after a GT2 Evo, the only way to own is to recreate it. Bryan had the dream and he placed it on the pavement. It's as simple as that.